Hiking in Ticino, Switzerland’s Riviera
Private or Self-Guided Departures Available June to September

The Italian-speaking canton of Ticino (Tessin in German and French) occupies the balmy, lake-laced southern foothills of the Alps. It’s radically different from the rest of the country in almost every way: culture, food, architecture, attitude and driving style owe more to Milan than Zurich, and the famously sunny skies even draw in fog-bound Milanese for a breath of air. Every Swiss has their own favorite bit of the country – but everybody loves the Ticino. The place is simply irresistible: after a short train ride from the Alps you can emerge in glittering sunshine to a tiny corner of the Italian Mediterranean that is forever Switzerland.  The Ticinesi, an expressive, stylish folk as different from the stolid farmers of the north as they could possibly be, are an ethnic and linguistic minority of eight percent in Switzerland.  

This trip is based in Lugano, nestled on a bay between snow-capped Monte Brè and San Salvatore, two steep, cone-shaped mountains.  Elegant Lugano is a city for walkers, filled with parks and plazas, outdoor cafes, lakeshore promenades, flowers, churches and excellent museums. Lugano's many open spaces, with their Italianate villas and revered churches, endow this part of Switzerland with a distinctive Mediterranean flair.  This is contrasted with tiny lakeside villages and beautiful, pastoral walks in the surrounding hillsides.

Sample Daily Itinerary

Day 1  

Travel independently to Lugano.  Options include a direct train connection from Zurich, or a train to the Alps followed by the famous Palm Express bus ride from St. Moritz.  We will provide joining instructions and assist in coordinating transportation.  Meet in the lounge of the hotel at 6:00 p.m. for welcome drinks and orientation followed by dinner.

Day 2  

We’ll take a boat across the lake to Cantine Caprino (motorboat taxi is also possible) and from here walk along the lakeside to Cantine di Gandria, where you can visit the Museo Dognale (Customs Museum – no charge J).  The museum illustrates the history of the customs administration and the modern day duties of the frontier guards.  After that we’ll go by boat to Gandria.  The walk through this picturesque old fishing village takes us through narrow lanes and up flights of steps to the church of St. Vigilio with its fine baroque interior and late medieval campanile.  We’ll return on foot to Lugano.  The lakeside walk to Castagnola and Lugano, amidst oleanders, palms, olive and cypress trees, is aptly named “Sentiero dei Fiori” (path of flowers).  If it’s a hot day we may stop off at the Lido di San Domenico at Castagnola and have a swim in the lake before returning to Lugano on foot or by boat, or bus.  

Day 3  

There are many walks and beautiful views of the region that are accessed from the historic Monte Bre funicular, which has been restored to the original 1912 design. The highest funicular station is only a ten minute walk from the village of Bre, which is well worth a visit with its cobbled and arcaded streets, shady courtyards and the flower bedecked windows of its houses.  From here there are some fine views down across the Italian border.  Within the village of Bre we’ll can visit the “art trail”, an outdoor walking museum of works of art.  The trail from Bre, parts of which are cobbled, climbs up in the direction of Monte Boglia passing through beech woods, and arrives at Boglia saddle, situated astride the border with Italy, before finally reaching the peak of Monte Boglia.  Here we’ll stop to admire the panorama, which sweeps over the Lugano region.  (In the past, many of these trails were used by smugglers, due to their proximity to the Italian border).  The path continues alongside the border until, at the Biscagno Pass, it intersects the path leading up from Valsolda: from this point, it is only a view minutes’ walk to Alpe Bolla, where the alpine refuge hut of the same name is situated.   A hundred meters beyond the alpine dairy farm, the path begins to descend and joins up again with the one taken on the way up, bringing us back to the starting point.  

Day 4  

Today we’ll have a walking tour of Lugano, a chance to visit museums, as well as to relax in one of the many outdoor cafes.  

Day 5  

We’ll take the San Salvatore funicular to the top of San Salvatore where we’ll enjoy a magnificent panorama over the plain of Lombardy and the peaks of the Swiss Alps.  Our walk takes us through the charming village of Ciona and then on to Carona with its narrow lanes and old world charm.  We’ll visit the San Grato bontanical gardens and then continue on to Alpe Vicania, where we’ll be rewarded by splendid view over Lake Lugano.  On our way down to Morcote we’ll pass the castle and church of Santa Maria Del Sasso.  We’ll enjoy the shady lanes of Morcote and then return to Lugano by boat.  

Day 6  

After our final breakfast we depart Lugano for home or other destinations.

Please bear in mind that this is a sample itinerary.  We would be delighted to develop a custom proposal for an adventure that is just right for your needs. 

 

Call us toll free (U.S.) at 866-533-4361 or

+203-840-0295 (outside the U.S.)

info@bredeson.com